Michigan

Tigers' odds up when Curtis Granderson leads off

AP File PhotoThe Tigers are 27-21 when Curtis Granderson leads off and 6-10 when he bats fifth.

ST. LOUIS -- When Curtis Granderson leads off, the Detroit Tigers have a better chance of winning. That's how it has worked out so far this season.

The Tigers are 27-21 with Granderson leading off and 6-10 with him batting fifth.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland had him batting leadoff Wednesday night against the Cardinals, and he belted a pair of solo home runs and singled. But it wasn't enough as the Tigers lost 4-3.

"I'd like to have Grandy there and keep him there," Leyland said. And in a perfect world, he would. But a lack of middle-of-the-order production led the manager to drop him down in the order.

Since May 27, Detroit is 5-1 when Granderson leads off.

"It doesn't feel the same without Granderson leading off," Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge said. "I love seeing him there. He's our sparkplug. And I think the majority of the players feel the same way."

Granderson said he wasn't aware of the record difference based on where he batted.

"I've not played enough games in the No. 5 spot to understand the good and bad of it," he said.

He also batted cleanup once and Detroit won that game.

While Granderson's home run and RBI production are similar in both spots, he is hitting .321 at No. 5 and .237 at No. 1 in the order.

So, it hasn't been a matter of Granderson's performance impacting the outcomes in both spots. But taking him out of his familiar spot atop the order can take other hitters out of their comfort zones.

One difference Granderson does see hitting fifth is how he gets pitched.

"I see more off-speed stuff there," he said. "I'm coming up there with more runners in scoring position, and it's getting a little more difficult there."